At Dillon's 9 and 12 month check-ups, the nurse asked if he puts objects into containers.
No.
Does he dump the contents of containers? Yes. Does he wait patiently for someone to refill the container so it can be re-dumped? Yes. Does he occasionally remove each item of a container individually and carefully examine the most interesting items? Yes.
But, the nurse didn't ask any of those questions.
When we got back from Ohio, Dillon was oddly motivated by a box of pin-curl clips and an Argentine teacup. In went the clips, out came the clips...in...out...in...for thirty minutes, at least.
Since then, Dillon has stumbled across several other motivators for the development the "things in a container" skill. It's had me wondering. What did it for me? What did it for you?
Scrambled eggs in a cup-holder? Lids in a bucket? Bath toys in a potty? Pin-curl clips in an Argentine teacup?
I don't like being sick. Listen when Mom zooms on my face. Can you tell what is wrong with me? The doctors couldn't agree.
I don't like hospitals. At least this one had a remote. This morning I smacked Mom in the eye with a remote. It was a different remote than the one they had at the hospital. Then I punched her in the nose with my fist. I wasn't feeling very well.
Our hearts go out to all those affected by tragedy ten years ago today. It wasn't easy, but Dillon and I went before church to pay our respects to those who lost their lives that day and their families and friends who continue to soldier on. He doesn't understand, yet, but I want Dillon to be aware and empathic. And so we begin now, because soon, he WILL understand things like this.
Despite the significance of today's date, I am mostly reflecting on happier things.
Dillon and I have been home from our three weeks in Ohio for nearly a week now. He changed a lot this month and his changes were more obvious to us because Daddy missed three weeks. I've been reflecting on the last month of my little Bubbers's life.
In the last month, Dillon finally learned to tip his sippy cup so he can drink unassisted. This is a relief to him and me.
He got his third and fourth molars and one of his two front teeth. That front tooth gave him more trouble than all of the molars combined. And with all those molars, Dillon began, in earnest, to explore all the wonderful foods out there. He's been particularly impressed by grapes and pepperoni.
With all this eating, and with three weeks of a dog waiting for scraps at every meal, Dillon learned some nasty little table manners.
Still, no talking. But, he is definitely expressive. Check out the Indian war cry.
Dillon gave me a very precious gift this month. He stayed with Nonna and Poppa for 2.5 days and 2 nights so I could spend a weekend with Daddy in Chicago. He was a bit unhappy with me when I returned, but forgave me pretty quickly.
My little bottle sucking sleeper is now a one nap, no bottle baby. Today he took a 2 hour and 45 minute afternoon nap. It was a difficult transition for both of us, but he is a big boy now and needed to learn to give up baby things like morning naps and bottles.
This isn't the only evidence that Dillon is no longer a baby (shoot, I'm going to cry). The cherry on top of the last month is this...
(By the way, that's Daddy in the red shirt and black shorts.) On Friday, Dillon was hanging on me while I stood at the bathroom sink. Then all of a sudden, I looked down and saw him walk away and go into his room. He's been walking like a champ ever since.
